Extermination Order: BYU @ Missouri

[Goatnapper'96]

There is a pretty stark talent gap even on the first team. This is the shitty reality of being a die-hard BYU fan. More often than not, you're going to have several guys starting for you who just aren't very good. I would not call most of the guys who see time in our back 7 as super talented. The OLBs who should be starting in a perfect world (Warner and Takix2) are super talented. Our ILBs have been a wreck outside of Langi when healthy, and even he is still learning the position. The poo-poo platter of Pikula, JLD, and Heder is pretty bad. Pikula has some talent but takes terrible angles and usually chooses the wrong gap. I don't see anybody in our starting secondary who other schools really went after. Davis, Hanneman, Preator, Shelton? These are our corners. I think we have a lot of young talent waiting in the wings, but for the most part, I still see a bunch of guys who BYU took a chance on who try really hard mixed in with a few players who could pay anywhere in the country.

BYU probably has some of the largest gaps in ability levels from the top kids on scholarship to the lowest. It is just the reality of BYU's recruiting base. The only time BYU has been as good as much of this fanbase imagines BYU can be was the run in the late 70's-mid 80's when a large reason for that run was the reality that nobody could defend the forward pass. Since then BYU is a solid program with the potential for a special year where it is going to require good luck. If BYU gets into the Big-12 I could see some improvement in ability to consistently get more non-LDS kids and perhaps more access to more top tier LDS kids but until then I tend to be in the camp that thinks Mendenhall does about as good a job with BYU as anyone else can. I find those who want Mendenhall gone to be irrationally absurd and not because I know of nobody better - that always strikes me a dumb reason to keep an inadequate coach, but because I think Mendenhall is a good coach. I don't think he is Urban Meyer or a top tier stud, but I think he is as solid as many of the second tier coaches such as Whit or Peterson that I think really highly of.

Saying that there were some really crazy errors on Saturday. But that happens and if BYU wants to play good teams it will continue to happen.

[Shaka]

I was being generous when I stated the first team is talented. There are obvious gaps but I think the coaches get a lot out of these guys.

One issue I do have with the coaches are some personnel decisions. I hate that an honest to goodness tight end hasn't figured into our offense until the last couple of games. Remington Peck was a very solid TE prospect coming out of high school. I've never thought he was more valuable to the team as a defensive lineman. A true tight end can do a lot to alleviate the pressure on Mangum by providing him with a short to intermediate option when he gets into a jam. I find it stunning it took so long to make this change considering how valuable true tight ends have been for BYU through the years. Let's face it, there has never been a shortage of beefy, pass catching, athletic fellows within the ranks of LDS prep prospects. In an era where recruiting has become so difficult for BYU it makes no sense not to exploit this advantage.

[Goatnapper'96]

I was being generous when I stated the first team is talented. There are obvious gaps but I think the coaches get a lot out of these guys.

One issue I do have with the coaches are some personnel decisions. I hate that an honest to goodness tight end hasn't figured into our offense until the last couple of games. Remington Peck was a very solid TE prospect coming out of high school. I've never thought he was more valuable to the team as a defensive lineman. A true tight end can do a lot to alleviate the pressure on Mangum by providing him with a short to intermediate option when he gets into a jam. I find it stunning it took so long to make this change considering how valuable true tight ends have been for BYU through the years. Let's face it, there has never been a shortage of beefy, pass catching, athletic fellows within the ranks of LDS prep prospects. In an era where recruiting has become so difficult for BYU it makes no sense not to exploit this advantage.

It has always made no sense to me that at least 2 if not 3 of the eligible receivers in BYU's basic offensive set are not runningbacks and/or tight ends. Bu I agree that overall the coaches get more out of the players the majority of college teams. If BYU finishes the year 9-3 that is a good year given the circumstances and the schedule.

Sometimes it is difficult for me to fathom how genuinely stupid I really think many BYU fans are about Mendenhall. Who knows maybe I am wrong about it and consistent top 10 football for BYU is possible.

[Shaka]

Sometimes it is difficult for me to fathom how genuinely stupid I really think many BYU fans are about Mendenhall. Who knows maybe I am wrong about it and consistent top 10 football for BYU is possible.

You're not wrong.

[Green Monstah]

Went to the game with my son. He loved every minute of it, and he sang the fight song after every score. That was a tough loss. The turnovers were game killers. Tanner's greatest strength may also be his biggest weakness (World War Z style). Dude loves the big play, but on 2nd or 3rd down, it may be better to hit the open receiver for a first down than throwing up a prayer to Matthews on the sideline. Dude is a freshman, and I think he'll be a beast next year (or the next time he is the starter, assuming Taysom returns).